Disk type shield coupling



Dec. 7, 1954 s, p, 1R 2,696,517

DISK TYPE SHIELD COUPLING Filed Feb. 12, 1949 Q IQ- I 2/ 1;R\\\\\\\\\\\\ ac; 2a 16 INVENTOR.-

' Wma United States Patent Office 2,696,517 Patented Dec. 7, 1954 DISKTYPE SHIELD COUPLING Stanley P. Bird, Verona, N. J., assignor to BreezeCorporations, Inc, Newark, N. J., a corporation of New JerseyApplication February 12, 1949, Serial No. 76,077 3 Claims. (Cl. 174-36)This invention relates to couplings for use with conduits, particularlysuch as are employed in radio shieldmg.

Experiments have shown that the ideal radio shielded ignition systemshould provide a continuous conductive cover for the entire ignitionsystem. However, installation consideration and the necessity forremoving portions of the ignition wiring from time to time have made itimperative that certain parts thereof be separable from the entiresystem. At the points where the shield assembly is separable it iscustomary to provide threaded couplings or other quickly detachableconnecting means. Investigation has disclosed that one of the majorsources of radio interference from a shielded ignition system hasresulted from electrical leakage emanating from the presently usedcoupling means.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a couplingmeans for use in a radio shielded ignition system, which will minimizethe amount of electrical leakage therethrough.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simplified couplingmeans while retaining the shielding features of a continuous conductivecover.

A further object of this invention is to provide a coupling means whichshall be capable of easy assembly and diassembly.

An object of this invention is to provide a coupling which will operatesatisfactorily despite repeated disconnection and reassembly thereof.

A feature of this invention is its flange-like construction.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of means touncouple and unite the elements with a minimum number of tools and in ashort amount of time.

The invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangementof parts, as herein illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, are illustrated threeforms of embodiment of the inven-' tion, in which drawings similarreference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a coupling, according to this invention,with a portion thereof cut away to show the inner construction.

Figure 2 is a vertical section, taken on line 22, of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of a second embodiment of this invention.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a third embodiment of a coupling,according to this invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section of the flange shown in Figure 3,somewhat enlarged.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section of another embodiment of a coupling,according to this invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 and 2, thereference numerals 10, 11 indicate two sections of a shielded conduit. Aferrule 12, 13 is secured to the adjacent ends of the said conduit 10,11. as by solder. The end of one ferrule is provided with a flange 14welded thereto, as shown at 27. The said flange 14 is centrally pierced,as indicated at 15, to allow the passage of an ignition wire (not shown)therethrough.

The opposed ferrule 13 is provided with a flange 16 welded thereto, asshown at 28 having an inwardly turned lip 17 thereon. This flange 16 isalso centrally pierced as indicated at 18. A shallow well or seat 19 ismachined in the forward face of the flange 16. This seat 19 is slightlylarger than the outside diameter of the flange 14, which is receivedtherein. The seat 19 thus maintains the flanges 14, 16 in concentricalignment and permits the conduits 10, 11 to be rotated with respect toeach other.

A snap ring 20 completes the assembly of this form of coupling. The ring20 is compressed and slipped within the lip 17. When the ring 20 isreleased it looks the flanges 1'4, 16 together and presses them into afirm electrical contact with each other. In order to separate thecoupling it is merely necessary to compress the snap ring 20, remove itfrom the flange 16 and the two sections of conduit 10, 11 may be pulledapart.

A second embodiment of this invention is shown in Figure 3. In this formthe flanges 21, 22 are identical in shape and comprise flat washer-likeplates secured to the ends of the ferrules 12, 13. The plate 22 isconstructed of fairly soft metal and has concentric strips of flat wire23 incorporated therein. The wire 23, best shown in Figure 5, is of suchsize as to be coextensive with the width of the flange 22. This couplingis joined by applying silver solder 24 or some other suitablyconguctzive metallic medium to the periphery of the flanges When it isnecessary to part the coupling, it is accomplished by grasping a looseend 26 of the outermost circle of wires and pulling it. This will severthe flange 22 and enable the coupling to be separated. Each of the wires23 is provided with an extending end 26 for the subsequentaccomplishment of this purpose. Thereafter, if the coupling is to bereassembled, the groove left by the removed wire can be filled withsolder or some suitable brazing metal.

Figure 4 illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention, inwhich the lowermost flange 22 has been provided with an upturned rim 25to receive and seat the upper flange 21 which is soldered thereto, asindicated at 29. The wires 23 shown in connection with Figures 3 and 5may be incorporated or omitted from this construction, as desired.

It is also within the concept of this invention to bevel the edges ofthe opposed flange faces to receive a Wire therebetween. Solder can thenbe applied over the edges and wire to hold the assembly together.Thereafter, the coupling may be parted by extracting the wire in themanner disclosed in connection with Figures 3 and 5.

It has been found that the use of a coupling having extended planeelectrical contact surfaces results in a great attenuation of theleakage signal, with a consequent increase in the shielding efficiencyof the assembly. An increase in the size of the flanges employedprovides greater shielding properties. Said flange size may therefore bevaried in accordance with the ignition and radio requirements desired.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is considered as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A conduit coupling for radio shielded wires comprising, opposedconduits, a disc shaped flange upon each of the ends of the conduits tobe coupled, at least one of said flanges being formed of a soft metalmeans consisting of a strip of solder for securing the flanges togetherat their peripheries, a wire embedded in the soft metal of one of theflanges so as to define a substantially continuous path around theflange spaced from the outer edge thereof and a depending portion ofsaid wire adapted to be grasped so as to pull the entire wire throughthe metal of the flange along the path of its embedding.

2. A conduit coupling for radio shielded wires comprising, opposedconduits, a disc shaped flange upon each of the ends of the conduits tobe coupled, one of said flanges being formed of soft metal meansconsisting of a strip of solder for securing the flanges'together attheir outer edges, a plurality of wires embedded in the soft metalflange so as to define substantially continuous paths around the flangespaced from each other and the outer edge thereof and a dependingportion on each of said wires adapted to be grasped so as to pull theentire Wire through the metal of the flange along the path of itsembedding.

3. A coupling for radio shielded wires comprising,

extended disc-shaped opposed flanges carried upon the elements to bejoined, one of said flanges being formed of a soft metal, strips ofsolder secured to the outer edges of the flanges to hold the flangestogether in electrical contact with each other, a Wire member imbeddedin the soft metal flange concentric with the periphery of said flange,said wire being capable of being pulled from the flange so as toseparate the flanges without destroying the usefulness of the saidcoupling.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTSName Date Wiggins Dec. 17, 1878 Warren Nov. 12, 1912 Rijns Feb. 7, 1928Field Jan. 8, 1929 Ellingsen Mar. 21, 1933 Cline Aug. 29, 1939 Eaton etal. Oct. 17, 1944 Cork et a1. Jan. 17, 1950

